(1.) As dispute involved in all these writ applications is common, this judgment will govern each one of them.
(2.) Petitioners in these writ applications have challenged the notification issued by the Regional Engineering College, Rourkela (hereinafter referred to as the 'College') refusing to allow their appearance at the higher semesters on the ground that they have not completed back (lower) semesters. Prayer in each case is to quash the aforesaid notification and to allow them to sit in the higher semesters. Dispute raised lies within a comparatively narrow compose as according to petitioners they are eligible to appear on the basis of "back paper"/rechecking procedure.
(3.) Background facts so far as undisputed are as follows :The College was established in the year 1961 and affiliated to Utkal University. Initially, regulations of the said University were being followed. After establishment of Sambalpur University, the College was affiliated to Sambalpur University in the year 1967 and regulations of Sambalpur University were followed. In the year, 1990, the College became autonomous and since then regulations of the College are being followed. Regulation 4 of the College which is of importance for adjudication of dispute reads as follows :"(i) If he/she satisfied the requirements mentioned in columns 2, 3 and 4 of the table, provided that any student who fails to satisfy the requirements under columns 2 and 3, becomes an ex-regular student and register for the subsequent examinations as a private candidate and appear in the corresponding theory papers in the next available chances.A student is not allowed to appear at the higher semester if he has not passed the corresponding back (lower) semester completely.